Menu

Search

  |   Business

Menu

  |   Business

Search

5 Great Ways to Find a Job as a Freelance Writer

Freedom to work however and wherever you want to is the new American dream. Freelance work is skyrocketing and many people are trying to figure out how to turn their current positions into remote careers. Some people are willing to take whatever freedom they can get, even if it is only for part of the time. Employers have been slower to catch on, though.

Luckily, there seems to be an influx in smaller companies contracting writers to independently complete articles, blog posts, essays and more for their companies. For those breaking into the freelance writing world, it can be very difficult to decide where to start. Let this list serve as a guide to help you on your path to becoming a successful freelance writer.

Build a Writing Portfolio

Having a portfolio on hand to display your work when you apply for writing jobs is very helpful. When you can show potential clients that you have a repertoire of published work, they are more willing to trust your ability to write for them, too. Many potential clients ask for portfolios upfront. If you already have one to show them, it will make the repetitive application process easier on you.

You can create an online website to serve as your portfolio, or you can attach a PDF with a few examples of your writings. An online portfolio is easier to share and can hold more content, but either a website or PDF will suffice. Regularly update your portfolio so that it stays current.

Also, make sure that it is immaculate since it will make either a weak or strong first impression of you and your writing ability. If it is a good impression, your writing portfolio has the potential to help you gain a new freelance writing job.

Cover Letter Template

You’re going to be applying for several jobs back to back. That is the reality of the freelance writing field. Having a pre-written cover letter template will help you apply for jobs more easily. The template should be brief and concise, detailing your strengths as a writer. It should also contain any information that you find yourself writing over and over as you apply for new freelance positions.

It is of the utmost importance to remember to personalize each cover letter. Never get lazy, carelessly leaving inaccurate or irrelevant information in a new cover letter. If you a submit a cover letter for a writing position for company XYZ, but your letter talks about how you’d love to write for company ABC, you can expect to never hear back from them. It is extremely offensive to not take the care to proofread and correct your submission to a prospective company. If you can’t get your cover letter right, they’ll assume the same of the quality of your work. However, a flawless cover letter will make a favorable impact and show them that you are serious. An irreproachable cover letter puts you one step closer to landing incredible freelance positions.

Cold Call, Email, Apply

The answer is always no if you never ask. If you want to write for a specific publication, they don’t know that. You must seek out the editor of that publication, contact them with your intentions, and build a relationship with them. Only then will you be able to seek a writing position with them.

If you are registered for a platform where you compete for jobs, you must apply for projects in order to be a considered candidate. It doesn’t matter if 5 or 50 other people have already applied. If you believe that you have the skills to successfully execute a writing assignment for someone, you must apply and make it known that you want to do so. Overcoming your fear of applying for jobs makes finding and gaining freelance writing positions a little easier.

Use Your Strengths

It is great to have the ability to write about any subject, whether you are familiar with it, or not. However, if you have a knack for a particular niche, why not seek out ways to write about it? If writing essays is your specialty, establish an online presence as an expert essay writer. You can also apply to write for a reliable essay service. Working for a reputable freelance site will most likely attract honest and reliable clients. Writing on the subjects that you are extremely knowledgeable about will allow you to build a rich portfolio and show you to be an expert in that field. If you become known as an expert in your niche, you will be an easy hire for those searching for a freelance writer within your niche. People may even start to seek you out to hire you because of your expertise!

Invest in Editing

Being able to edit your own work as a freelance writer is a must. If you submit work that constantly needs to be corrected, clients will not want to work with you anymore. In order to learn how to properly edit yourself, it is helpful to first invest in someone else editing your work for you. Hire an editor to check your work and ask them to track the corrections that they make. Learn from the mistakes that they point out, and apply what you learned to your future writings. Lastly, always double check your final work before you submit it to a client. Edit yourself so that no one else will have to. Submit work that is perfect so that your clients will continue to work with you and effortlessly recommend you to their colleagues and friends.

Take these tips and apply them to your freelance job search regimen. If you are an exceptional writer and diligent about applying for writing opportunities, this methodology will help you to book more freelance writing positions. It is easy to search for job listings, sign up for freelance writing job search platforms, and receive emails about potential jobs. The hard work - and the work that counts the most - is applying, making a great first impression with your cover letter and portfolio, and submitting work that will make the clients want to work with you again. If you are capable of doing that, you will be on your way to securing many great freelance positions for yourself.

  • Market Data
Close

Welcome to EconoTimes

Sign up for daily updates for the most important
stories unfolding in the global economy.